php - ZF2 Form Collections - filtering empty records -

i'm trying work out how filter empty records form collection. application have 2 entities, competition , league. competition may have 0 or more leagues.

so create competition form (competitionform), competition fieldset (competitionfieldset) , league fieldset (leaguefieldset).

the competitionfieldset added competitionform, , competitionfieldset uses zend\form\element\collection allow user add 1 or more leagues. i've added current code each class below.

by default, want display input fields 3 leagues within competition, within competitionfieldset, when add zend\form\element\collection item, set count option 3.

but if user doesn't supply data leagues, want ignore them. @ present, 3 empty associated leagues created within database.

if set inputfilter on leaguefieldset make name field required example, form won't validate.

i should maybe mention i'm using doctrine2 model entities , hydrate forms etc.

i'm sure make work additional code on models, or in controller process form, i'm sure there neater solution maybe using filters.

if point me in right direction appreciated.

many in advance can provide.

:wq familymangreg 

my competitionform

use kickoff\form\abstractadminform; use doctrine\common\persistence\objectmanager; use doctrinemodule\stdlib\hydrator\doctrineobject doctrinehydrator; use zend\stdlib\hydrator\classmethods;  class competitionform extends abstractadminform {     public function __construct(objectmanager $objectmanager)     {         parent::__construct($objectmanager, 'competition-form');          $fieldset = new competitionfieldset($objectmanager);         $fieldset->setuseasbasefieldset(true);         $this->add($fieldset);          $this->add(array(             'name' => 'submit',             'attributes' => array(                 'type' => 'submit',                 'value' => 'submit',                 'id' => 'submitbutton',             ),         ));     } } 

my competitionfieldset

use kickoff\form\abstractfieldset; use kickoff\model\entities\competition; use doctrine\common\persistence\objectmanager; use doctrinemodule\stdlib\hydrator\doctrineobject doctrinehydrator;  class competitionfieldset extends abstractfieldset {     public function __construct(objectmanager $objectmanager)     {         parent::__construct($objectmanager,'competition');          $this->sethydrator(new doctrinehydrator($this->objectmanager,'kickoff\model\entities\competition'))             ->setobject(new competition());          $this->setlabel('competition');          $this->add(array(             'name' => 'name',             'options' => array(                 'label' => 'competition name (e.g. premier league)',                             ),             'attirbutes' => array(                 'type' => 'text',             ),         ));          $this->add(array(             'name' => 'long_name',             'options' => array(                 'label' => 'competition long name (e.g. barclays premier league)',             ),             'attirbutes' => array(                 'type' => 'text',             ),         ));          $leaguefieldset = new leaguefieldset($objectmanager);         $this->add(array(             'type' => 'zend\form\element\collection',             'name' => 'leagues',             'options' => array(                 'label' => 'leagues',                 'count' => 3,                 'should_create_template' => true,                 'allow_add' => true,                 'target_element' => $leaguefieldset,             ),         ));     } } 

my leaguefieldset

use kickoff\form\abstractfieldset; use kickoff\model\entities\league; use doctrine\common\persistence\objectmanager; use doctrinemodule\stdlib\hydrator\doctrineobject doctrinehydrator; use zend\inputfilter\inputfilterproviderinterface;  class leaguefieldset extends abstractfieldset implements inputfilterproviderinterface {     public function __construct(objectmanager $objectmanager)     {         parent::__construct($objectmanager,'league');          $this->sethydrator(new doctrinehydrator($this->objectmanager,'kickoff\model\entities\league'))             ->setobject(new league());          $this->setlabel('league');          $this->add(array(             'name' => 'name',             'options' => array(                 'label' => 'league name (e.g. first qualifying round)',             ),             'attirbutes' => array(                 'type' => 'text',             ),         ));          $this->add(array(             'name' => 'long_name',             'options' => array(                 'label' => 'league long name (e.g. uefa champions league first qualifying round)',             ),             'attirbutes' => array(                 'type' => 'text',             ),         ));     }      public function getinputfilterspecification()     {         return array(             'name' => array(                 'required' => true,             )         );     }  } 

you need data request before pass entitymanager, that's sure. add own validation filter empty records. can provide javascript filters catch submit form event , delete empty fields before submitting it.